In 1974, a Florida family found a polished metal sphere in the ashes of a fire. It rolled, spun, and pulsed with a life of its own—terrifying scientists and sparking theories of alien tech.

Shares of Merck & Co. Inc. slumped Tuesday, after the drug giant reported a rare revenue miss amid disappointing sales of two of its three biggest drugs and announced a $3 billion cost-cutting plan ...